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A. W. GREGOR AND T. H. FRENCH.

LAMP BURNER.

` APPLICATION FILED MAY 6,1918 l 3 l 2,478 Patented Aug. 5, 1919 -Z /y H \.llI NKJV w VII uw" 75 il" lm 59 f awikil l IIIIIIELQIIII Iz: 5? Ifee,',` ,my I v f III 23 27 22 26 20 jg J9 l Jiu/mf Z/Ze 3 ZU G y v TjQmQ/H jm WI -j mmwm 7 j@ TIIE COLUMBIA vLANrIGIzIwII un.. WASHINGTON, I). c.

- lNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST W. GEEGOE, OE IVIEEIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ANDTHEODOEE LI, EEENCHQO'E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOES, Bfr IvIEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To THE. MANTLE LAMP COMPANY OE AMERICA, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0E ILLI- NCIS. i

Applicatonled May 6, 1918. Serial No. 232,776.

To all whom t may concern.' Y

Be it known that We, AUGUST lV. GREGOR and THEoDonE H. FRENCH, Citizens of the United States, residing at Meriden, inthe county of N ew Haven and State of Connecticut, and Chicago, inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, respectively, have invented a certain neu1 and useful AImprovement in Lamp-Burners, of Whichvthe following is a full, clear, concise,'and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Cur invention relates to improvements `in burners, and has special reference to burners adapted for hydro carbon oils, suoli as kerosene and for use with mantles Which are heated in to incandescence for the production of light. v

This type of burner is commonly known as the blue flame burner, as the greatest efficiency in the production of light by means of a mantle is obtained When the fuel is most `efficiently burned for the production of heat and not for light directly.

It is Well known that a blue flame, which indicates that there is no free carbon being given off or produced, also indicates the most eflicient combustion of the fuel.'

The object of our invention is to provide a burner of the character described, by which greater efficiency shall be obtained than heretofore has been possible', it shall be capable of adjustment from maximum to minimum production of light Without the flame changing from a blue or non-luminous Y to a yellow or luminous flame; and which shall result in the burner being maintained at a minimum temperature for all heights of flame.

Our invention resides in a burner, of the tubular Wick or so-called Argand type, pro'- vided with means for causing such a perfectly controlled projection of the air into the flame of theburner, atall points of adjustment of the. Wick, that perfect combustion of` the carbon contents of the fuel ensues that all possibility of the production of free carbon is eliminated and that the fuelis,

burned at apmaximum of efficiency.

Our invention also consists inthe combinations and arrangements of partsand devices and in the Several features of construction by specification of Letters Patent.

LAMP-BURNER.

Patented Ang; 5, 1919.

which We are enabled to attain the above described and `other objects and all as 'hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Cur invention Will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing formingrpart of this specification and in which:

Figure l is a side 'elevation of a mantle lamp embodying our invention in one preferred form;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section view of the burner part ofthe lamp;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical central section ofthe inner air distributer Or spreader and Fig. l is an enlarged fragmentary vertical. sectional View of the upper end of the Wick and the'coperating burner parts.

We have illustrated our invention as best exemplified by its application to a central draft or Argand burner Which uses a tubular Wick and produces a round or circular llame. The air for a flame of this :character is supplied by air supply passages both Within and Without the Wick.

This form of Wick is especially adapted inshape for use With a suitable mantle. The old Argand burner Without a mantle, but producing a White o rluminous fla'me, was fairly eiiicient, though it was *at times diflicult to maintain the4 Aburner properly adjusted. This difficulty of adjustment was greatly enhanced upon the application of the mantle and the attempt to adjust' the burner to produce a blue flame for heat instead of a luminous iiame for light. And further, it has, before our invention, been impossible, so' far as We have been able to learn, to adjust a mantle burner of this form from maximum light to minimum light and retain a perfect blue flame throughout the Whole range of adjustment. y

In said drawings 1 represents a lamp of the Argand or tubular Wick type, having a font or bowl 2', surmounted by a burner 3 which carries a chimney 4 and is provided with a mantle 5. y j

The burner comprises an outer casing 6, adapted to fitivithin and be supported by the top 7 of the font 2. This casing lcarries a centrally arranged Wick 8, arranged between an inner wick tube 9 and an outer Wick tube 10. The wick is carried by a tubular member 11 having a vertical rack 12 by which the wick is adjusted as to height. For this purpose we provide the usual adjusting knob 13 and pinion 14 on the horizontal shaft 15.

The lower end of the casing 6 is closed by a horizontal plate 16, which is provided with openinOs 17 to admit air to the bowl of the lamp, above the oil therein. The inner wick tube 9 is open at its lower end and. air can rise therein from the lamp bowl. The upper end of the casing carries the chimney crown or holding member 18 which is provided with a row of small air admission openings 19, adapted to admit a small quantity of air below the lower end of the chimney. The chimney holder is provided with spaced raised projections :20 to provide a space below the lower end of the chimney to permit the air to enter. The projections 20 are formed in the floor 21 of the chimney holder which is imperforate.

The wick tubes 9 and 10 rise above the floor 21 and surrounding the upper ends of these tubes is an outer `cone Q2, mounted concentric with the wick and connected solidly with the floor 21 of the chimney holder. This cone is contracted toward its upper end 23 and terniinates in an inwardly formed circumferential flange 24. The cone 2:2 and the floor 21 close the lower end of the chimney holder except for the small holes 19 and the central opening 25 of the cone 22.

Vile do not depend for con'ibustion upon any air which enters into the lower end of the chimney outside of the mantle 5, as we are enabled to cause complete and perfect combustion of all burnable products within the mantle. We merely allowa little air to enter through the holes 19 to rise between the mantle and the chimney to assist in preventing the chimney becoming overheated.

147e terminate the outer wick tube 10 at 26 somewhat below the flange 24, providing an annular space 27 for the flow of air up through or beneath the cone 22 to and into the flame above the wick.

We terminate the inner wick tube at 2S, slightly above the -end 2G of the outer tube, so that when the wick S is adjusted with its upper end 30 at the top of the inner tube, it will `be burned to a curved contour slightly higher at the inner edge than the outer edge as best shown in the enlarged view Fig. 4.

Both of these wick tubes are imperfora-te and to prevent the air which rises beneath the cone 22 rushing too strongly over the outer edge or surface of the wick, we provide an external narrow circumferential flange 3l on the upper end Q6 of the outer wick tube. The rising air has to circulate around this flange and is then directed by the cone 22 and the top flange 24 more horizontally against the upper end of the wick and into the flame. The flame 3Q rises in the form of a cylinder above the wick and of greater or less height depending' upon the distance the upper end of the wick projects above the wick tubes.

lVhile we are enabled to obtain thoroughly good results from our improved outer cone .when the flange 24 is horizontal, we have found that much greater efficiency and control of flame ensues when we depress the inner edge of the flange, making it` in fact, inclined downwardly to a. slight extent, best shown in Fig. 4. S0 far as we are informed, such flanges have heretofore been inclined upwardly, permitting the easy rise of the air from beneath the cone around the flame and not causing the direct and forced impingement of the air into the flame, which we are enabled to accomplish. A further function which is inherent in this novel form of flange, especially in combination with the deflecting flange 31, is that of pro jecting the air downwardly upon the upper end of the wick when the same is turned low.

At such times, the heat being generated is not very much and the consequent updraft is small, very little if any air reaches the Wick from the inner tube and the result is that unless some means is provided which causes a forced application of air, combustion is not perfect and free carbon is produced. Furthermore, as the low flame is in close contact with the inner tube at this time and, as stated, the draft is not strong, the heat of the flame is not carried away, and the inner tube is more highly heated than is desirable. This results in heat being conveye-d down the inner tube to the upper end of the wick, causing a quicker vaporization of the fuel, and a consequent rise in the flame. All of this results in a hot smoky flame which soon blackens the mantle, as well as producing undesirable odors. All of these diliiculties are eliminated by means of our improved burner, for it effects a. better circulation of air, its direct impingement upon the upper end of the wick, with the consequent perfect combustion and the rapid carrying away of the heat produced.

We can turn down our burner to a minimum fiame and it will remain in such condition indefinitely, whereas heretofore it was a practical impossibility to hold the flame at a minimum low point ofadjustment.

The mantle 5 is vcarried by a holder 33 which fits the cone 22 adjacent to its base and is provided with a mantle carrying bail 34, which rises above the mantle and from which vthe mantle depends.

We close the upper end of the center or inner wick tube by a tubular air distributer 35. This distributer comprises a cylindrical sleeve 36 fitting closely within the inner tube 9 `and" placed, as tol relativel height, by stops 37 providedon theinner-surface of the tube l0, on which the lowerend of the distributer rests. ,Theflower endof the cylinder36 is freely opened forfthe air to rise through same and we form it with a clesed upper end 37. The cylinder 36 is long enough so that its upper end rises a short distance above the flange 24 ofthe outer cone. The upper end is' closed and we provide the cylindrical wall thereof with several rows of perforations 38,adjacent to the upper end and extending down close to the upper end of the inner wick tube. Preferably these rows of air holes in the wall of the distributer 36 are progressively fen larged toward the upper end ofthe distributer, the upper rows of holes being of larger diameter than the lower rows. Air can be fed directly. against the inner surface of the upper end of the wick through the lower rowsof these holes Vwhen the wick is adjusted above its lowermost position, the air entering the space'39 above the end of the inner wick tube 10, and between the wick and the distributer. But the upper rows ofthese holes are larger and of more value in directing air into the flame 32 above the upper end of the wickas best shown in Fig. j

and outwardly inclined flange secured at its inner edge or diameter upon the top 37 of the distributer 36. We preferably make the maximum diameter of the deflector nearly as great as the outer diameter 0f the air distributer 36, so that the outer edge of the flange 40 approaches close to the flame 32. Immediately beneath the flange 40 we provide an annular row of air holes 42 in the flat or horizontal upper end 37 of the air distributer 34 for causing the air to rise through the top 37 and be directed by the deflector into the flame, as best shown in Fig. 4.

The draft induced by the rising heated gases from the flame, draws the air down into the lamp bowl through the inlet openings 17 and up through the central inner wick tube 9 and up through the openings 42, where it strikes the under side of the deflector flange 40 and is positively directed into the flame, causing a perfect admixture of the air with the gases of combustion.

The flange 40 may be formed from or secured upon the upper end of the distributer in any suitable manner, such as producing a central projection 42 on the upper end 37 of a ydiameter to receive the flange 40, which is in the form of a ring', and then deforming the projection 42 downwardly upon the inner edge of the flange ring 40 to tightly secure the `same in place. Other than the perforations 42 the upper end 37 of the distributer is imperforate.

By means of the inwardly extendingv flange 24 on the outer cone, the outwardly extending annular .deflector 26 on the outer wick tube in combination with the inclined deflector 40 on the inner distributer, we are enabled to produce perfect combustion of thefuel at all points of adjustment of the flame; we are enabled to keep the burner coolwhen the flame is turned low, we are enabled to maintain the flame at any point of adjustment indefinitely, and we are enabled to produce a maximum of light with the use of a minimum quantity of fuel.

As many modifications of our invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled inthe art, we do not limit or confine our invention to the specific structures herein shown and described, except within the scope of the appended claims.

Wre claim:

l. In a lamp of the type described, hav- 4ing an4 inner Vwick tube, a spreader closing the upper end of the tube and rising above the upper end ofthe wick, the closed end of the spreader provided with an annular row of air outlet openings adjacent to its periphery, a cone deflector of substantially the same diameter as the spreader above said openings adapted to direct air rising therethrough substantially horizontally above the upper` end of the wick.

2. A flame spreader llfor use in a tubular wick burner, comprising a cylindrical shell adapted to fit within the inner wick tube and having a closed upper substantially flat end, an annular row of air outlets in said end adjacent to the periphery thereof, and a. substantially 45 degrees cone deflector on said upper end and above said outlets, adapted to deflect air outwardly which rises through said outlets.

3. In a burner of the tubular wick type having an inner wick tube, a straight cylindrical air controller in the upper end of the tube, air passages in the side walls of said controller above the tube, air passages through the top of said controller, and a circumferential baffle or spreader above the passages for forcing air issuing therefrom sidewise into the top of the flame.

4. In a burner of the tubular wick type having an inner wick tube, a cylindrical air controller in the upper end 0f the tube, air passages in the side walls of said controller above the upper end of said tube and progressively increasing in size upwardly, air

passages in the top of said controller and a circumferential baille or spreader above the passages through the top of the controller for forcing air issuing therefrom sidewise into the top of the flame.

5. In a burner of the tubular wick type having an inner and an outer wick tube, a burner cone having an internal annular deflecting liange at its upper end to direct air inwardly into the flame, a cylindrical air controller in the upper end of the inner wick tube, air passages in the side walls of said controller above the inner tube, air passages through the top of said controller, and a circumferential baille or spreader above the passages through the top of the controller for forcing air issuing therefrom sidewise into the top of the flame.

6. In a burner of the kind described, having inner and outer wick tubes, a. burner cone surrounding the wick, an internal annular defleeting flange at the upper end 0f the cone for directing air into the flame, a cylindrical air controller located in the upper end of the inner wick tube, said controller provided with air passages in its side walls above the upper end of the inner tube, said passages increasing in size progressively upward, the controller also provided with air passages in its upper end, and an annular baille or spreader, located above said last named passages to force air issuing therefrom sidewise into the top of the iaine.

7. In al blue flame burner df the tubular wick type, an upwardly air directing fiange within the flame and a downwardly air directing ange outside the flame and arranged higher than the upwardly air directing flange.

8. In a blue flame burner of the tubular wick type, an air spreader within the wick rising above the wick and adapted to direct air upwardly into the flame, and a burner cone surrounding the wick and provided with a downwardly inclined flange above the air spreader and adapted to direct air downwardly into the flame at a point above the place where the upwardly directed air enters the flame.

In witness whereof I, AUGUST W. GREGOR, subscribe my name this 2nd day of May, A. D. 1918.

In witness whereof I, TI-mononn H. FRENCH, subscribe my name this 29th day of April, A. D. 1918.

AUGUST WV. GREGOR. THEODORE H. FRENCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. y 

